TFI Go vs Translink mLink
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TFI Go
Purchase tickets for participating Irish bus services directly from your smartphone. Downloaded tickets can be used immediately after activation, eliminating the need for printing. Supports various ticket types and fare options for different traveler needs.
- Buy bus tickets on your phone
- Download tickets directly
- Activate tickets before travel
- Single, two, and ten journey tickets
- One-day and seven-day zonal tickets
- Save payment cards for quick purchases
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The TFI Go App allows you to buy tickets for participating Transport for Ireland bus services and participating commercial bus operators directly from your phone. Your ticket is downloaded to the TFI Go App and can be used to travel straight away. There’s no need for printing, simply activate your ticket before each journey and show it to the driver while boarding. To avail of discounted Young Adult and Student fares a valid TFI Young Adult or Student Leap Card must be shown to the driver when boarding. Features: • Single, two Journey and ten Journey tickets available for Adults and Young Adults and Students • One day and seven-day zonal tickets available in cities. • Search for a ticket between your origin and destination, or choose the zone you are travelling in. • Buy and download tickets directly to your phone. • Save a payment card for faster future purchases. • Tickets valid for use up to 28 days after purchase. • Search for and save your favourite Operators.
Translink mLink
Purchase and use public transport tickets directly from your mobile device. This app allows you to buy various ticket types for multiple transit services, simplifying your travel experience.
- Mobile ticket purchase
- Weekly, Monthly, and Day tickets
- NI Railways, Metro/Glider support
- Airport Express 300
- Refund and Delay Repay information
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The quicker and easier way to travel with Translink. Buy, receive & use your tickets via your mobile. You can buy your Weekly, Monthly, 3 Day Flexi and new 1 Day Peak and 1 Day Off-Peak tickets using your mobile phone. You can purchase NI Railways, Metro/Glider, Foyle Metro, yLink and 24+, Airport Express 300, Goldline services (within Northern Ireland), selected Ulsterbus and urby tickets. Full details of ticket validities, what to do if your phone is lost, stolen, damaged or faulty, how to apply for a Refund, how to make a claim under our Delay Repay scheme, further information and full Terms & Conditions can be found at www.translink.co.uk/mLink
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Translink mLink at 1.5 against TFI Go's 1.0. Translink mLink also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). TFI Go's advantage is ratings volume (31 vs 8). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Translink mLink holds the better App Store score, 1.5 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 31 and 8 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 2% of TFI Go's written reviews are positive against 1% of Translink mLink's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
TFI Go ships an update every 4 months, Translink mLink fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 21, 2026.
| Parameter | TFI Go | Translink mLink |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.0 (31 ratings) | 1.5 (8 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 2.4% of reviews — better | 1.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 31 — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.4 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | National Transport Authority | Corethree Ltd. |
Customer experience
TFI Go
Translink mLink
Bugs and requests
TFI Go
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Translink mLink
Reported bugs
5 issues- Constant log-outs
- Tickets disappearing
- Crashes when selecting destination
- Basket validation errors when purchasing
- Password reset emails not being received
Requested features
4 requests- Add 'Add to Apple Wallet' button
- Remember last route when buying tickets
- Ability to buy tickets for multiple people
- Integrate ticket purchasing into main app
In-app purchases
TFI Go
No in-app purchases
Translink mLink
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is TFI Go free?
Is Translink mLink free?
Which has better reviews, TFI Go or Translink mLink?
Do TFI Go or Translink mLink have ads?
Which is updated more often, TFI Go or Translink mLink?
Other comparisons
